What’s Happening:

Democrats have long complained about “dark money” and other ethical concerns related to campaign spending. Yet, it does not appear that much is being done in Congress to prevent candidates from doing questionable things with their campaign funds.

AOC has criticized Republicans over campaign finance rules. But she has been in the hot seat several times, over how she’s spent her money.

Another member of the “squad” has come under scrutiny over large sums paid to her husband. But after questions started to arise, she made a move that will have many concerned.

From Fox News:
Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., has continued shoveling campaign cash to her husband, Cortney Merritts, but altered the description of the payments amid scrutiny. She has sent over $100,000 to him since she added him to the campaign’s payroll nearly two years ago.

According to new filings reviewed by Fox News Digital, Bush’s committee paid Merritts $12,500 for “wage expenses” between July and August. Merritts previously gathered money for security services, but the committee switched their characterization in April as they continued to bring headaches for the campaign.

Democrat lawmaker Cori Bush’s campaign faced scrutiny after paying her husband for supposed security services. It appears lawmakers started asking questions about why she was paying her husband for security when her campaign was already paying for security from a private company.

Bush began paying a company called All American Protective Consultants for security since the third quarter. She then started paying her husband for “wage expenses,” without specifying what this meant.

She has paid her husband over $100,000 since he appeared on her campaign’s payroll in January 2022. He was paid $12,500 just in the months of July and August. In just this year alone, he has been paid $42,500 from her campaign committee.

This will certainly upset many Americans. For years, we’ve learned of candidates paying large sums to their family members, out of their campaigns’ funds. Federal law does not forbid candidates from hiring family.

But large payments made to Bush’s husband will surely draw criticism. Some might suspect these payments are being used to funnel campaign cash into Bush’s private coffers.

Campaign finance law limits the use of campaign funds for campaign-only business. But candidates might have found a loophole to transfer money into their own pockets, by putting spouses on the payroll.

Key Takeaways:

• Democrat Cori Bush under fire for paying her husband “wage expenses” out of campaign funds.
• She had previously paid her husband tens of thousands, claiming he provided security services.
• Candidates are often criticized for hiring family members and paying them large sums out of campaign cash.

Source: Fox News